Born in Bowling Green, Kentucky and raised in northern New Jersey, Professor Del Mastro earned his B.A. at Wake Forest University, his M.A. at Middlebury College, and his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. After defending his doctoral dissertation in August 1992, “Dr. D” relocated to Charleston, South Carolina to begin a career at The Citadel, where for 18 years he taught a variety of courses to include Spanish language and literature, and Hispanic culture and business.

In July 2010, he moved to the College of Charleston where he is currently Chair of the Department of Hispanic Studies. He also serves as Founding Director of the South Carolina Spanish Teacher of the Year program and Executive Secretary-Treasurer/Director of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society.

Also an active scholar, Professor Del Mastro’s areas of research include Spain’s Generation of 1898 literary movement, the 20th century author Carmen Laforet (Spain’s equivalent of the United States’ J.D. Salinger), and female identity, psychosocial development and psychoanalysis in 20th Century, post-Spanish Civil War narrative. Dr. D’s related publications include a Spanish literature anthology and various articles dedicated to 19th and 20th-century Spanish literature. He has also presented his work in many regional, national and international venues.

In addition to his research, Professor Del Mastro is Co-Founder of the refereed journal Decimonónica; Editorial Board Member of Juan de la Cuesta Hispanic Monographs, MIFLC Review, and Miríada Hispánica; Founding Advising Editor of Hispanic Studies Review; Council Member of the Association of College Honor Societies; Member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese; Full Member of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language; Executive Committee Member of the Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference, among other activities.

A life-long fitness enthusiast, Dr. D also enjoys running, weight lifting and Wado-Ryu karate, in which he earned the rank of Shodan.